New-York tribune., 1887-05-15
LIFE IN A FLAT.
THE EXPERIENCES OF A HoUsE.HuNrER

snaii as those Oh Prudence how dreafuy she must
have stretched them out Of shape and shapcness in
her much reaching fm octavesi
After We had experienced good deal OF anguish
from this source. ventured TO write 10 the agent
about 10 jnqured-enclosing free-hand drawing
Illustrating my idea-f it would not be possible 10
connect the piano-not but the one across tho
way-with q waste pipe This pipe was to be so
constructed that all tho music manufactured by
tho young lady beyond what was necessary for her
own enjoyment THAT il TO say the overflow could
be quietly drawn Off without being disseminated
through other fats. The agrnt politely responded
that he would speak to tho Of the building
about it, but OF the opinion that the suggested
Improvement would involve raising the rent Ac-
cordngly dropped the matter right there. and Pru
dence by way OF comforting herself and her husband
quoted,with a great deal Of feeling
life evermore Is FED by DEATH
IN earth. and sea and skv.
ASd ome,h,n Iea, rose may breathe its breath
While admitting that the lines met .nr case tolf
Prudence that II she could coax the rose across tho
han to keep her foot the soft redaI while she
played and to obey the eighth law. thought we
could die easier However, we always felt tIat the
young lady meant well
Nor was the too-contngent piano the only drawback
TO DO set over against the many advantages Of our flat
There was an alert and enterprsing janitor. "They
reckon III who leave me out" boasts Brahma as re-
ported by Emerson. Our janitor would seem to have
had the same good opinion of himself. He magnifed
authority TO supervise the tenants without waiting
TO be summoned he called upon us before we had
wen moved In to see about our ice and milk supplies.
DO state that he confronted Prudence and me with
mandamus from the Supreme Court compelling us
to take our ice and milk from the dealers that no
recommended no, simply state that on my re-
marking that would not trouble him since friend
had furnished me with the address OF trustworthy
dealers In ice and milk, he looked II be regarded
my friend as brazen interloper, an enemy Of the
established order.
"of course" remarked as his face fell below
zero, sit makes no difference to you from whom the
tenants procure their suppliesl All you desire Is
faithfully to guarl their interests to see that they
get the worth Of their money"
The 1anItor asscntcd but in tones that lacked
heartness-f not sulIiness Shortly after he with
drew friend called to who had been living in
a fat in New-York for several years We informed
him OF our conversation with the janltor
"Wen, think you made q mistake" he replied.
II once heard famous man advise the large audience
before whom he was leoturing to quarrel with
their butcher. So l say to you, keep on the right
side OF your fat ianitor. Better take the ice and
milk that he recommends provided you find that you
are well served. 1anitor without putting himself
out In the least can put You out good deal Sup
pose that Instead OF patronizng his milk man you
give your custom to some other What thenf
DO you imagine that your milk will reach you
time every morning under this arrangement You
mustn't forget that the dealers who furnish milk,
Ice, vegetables and other supplies not allowed or
do not find 1t convenient TO deliver their orders at tho
doors Of the respective flats. They leave them ut the
basement entrance and the 1antor places them upon
the freight elevator or the dumb waiter and sends
them up stairs. SO you the 1anors opportunity.
You breakfast say. at eight clock Now and then
at quarter past eight you remark to Mrs scudder.
How comes it that breakfast isn't servedP She
sends out to the kitchen to find out and Is informed
that the milk hasn't come yet. message Is sent to
and tr
explanation that 1t has Just arrived. Then you over
haul your milkman and he assures you that the
tanitor Hes-that the milk is invariably delivered by
half-past seven Then you overhaul the janltor and
ho hotly charges the milkman with being a liar.
don't pretend that this is the universal experience.
OF course it Isn't There ianitors and janitors
Just as there are landlords and landlords But do
contend that your 1at ianitor. like your butcher Is
q good fellow creature not to quarrel with"
thanked my friend for his advice, adding with
some hesitation that Prudence and had always been
accustomed TO attend the Reformed Dutch Church.
Would he advise me to get my spiritual supplies In
the future from the minister whom the janit0r favored
or might feel at liberty to make my own selections
My friend replied that he not positive on that
point and disliked TO say anything which might mis-
represent the ianltors position and by doing hurt
his feelings He had understood, however, that the
"United Brotherhood of Metrop Flat Janitors"
at late meeting had passed resolution guaranteeing
tenants perfect freedom in securing their ethical
sustenance.
"well in view of that concession Prudence OBJ
served lit perhaps does not make much difference
about milk restriction Pure milk is one of the
things that mako life worth uying-but then to tho
pure all things pure"
"By the way, Robert" inquired, "has the fee
fashion found its way to fatsl VIII the janitor
expect to DO tipped for any little ordinary service
he may DO asked TO render us ."
"Well, as / said BEFORE" answered Robert "thcre
tanitors and janltors. insisting the other
day that other things being equal fewer servants
required In flats than In dwelling houses. But my
sister, with whom taking and who Is u house,
holder. shook her head. am not sure she
said. ITO be sure you get on with two servants
In your Hat while / require three servants in my
house But ! suspect that on average your
gratutes 10 the ianitor OF your Hat amount " as
much per month as the wages OF OF my giris.s
l thought a moment, and concluded that although she
was not right there good deal Of truth in hor
conjecture You there are 10 end of things that
you want the tanitOr ~ do. Now and then II Is de-
sirable to have the elevator beyond The pre-
scribed hours; the babys carriage has % be taken
up and down. or one OF the ehinneys smokes and tho
delay; tho resident carpenter who coming
Monday sure TO fix sliding door that won't slide
Is week overdue and there Is need that his memory
should be logged In these and a thousand aud ono
other emergencies the tenant leans on Ae lantor aud
there jant0rs that decline 10 be leaned unless
their system is toned up, not with iron bat with more
precious metal"
"Is looks to me, Prudence" remarked after our
friend had departed las II we would do we 10 let our
tantor understand at the start that We propose 70 do
tho handsome thing by him."
"Whst do you think would be an appropriate over
ture on part !"
"Wen was going to suggest that you might have
good thick strand Of your hair cut OF and braided
into neat-but-not-gaudy watch chain for him. How
does it strike youl"
Prudence replied that 1t ddlt strike her at all; that
tho essence OF statesmanship might be compromise.
but that as for her she proposed u take ice and milk
from whom she chose or know tho reason why.
Whether she ultimately furnished with the reason
why 1 never knew. But had good reason to be-
lieve thaG before many weeks had passed she con-
sented To confirm the nominations sent TO her by tho
ianltor. Nevertheless this thing remains 10 DO
said: During this fat Of our lives we lad to do
With three janitOrs, and two out OF the three wee
faithful efficient and obliging made no effort TO In
terere with 10 circum ent US, and responded TO All
ordinary demands made upon them without leo or re-
ward We gave them handsome present at tho
HOLIDAYS but little or nothing at any other time, and